Mother Seton Shrine Basilica 2025

In commemoration of our son's death a year ago, my wife and I made a mini-pilgrimage to The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Maryland. It was early February so we still had snow from the earlier storm.

Shrine Entrance

The shrine has a book shop and museum about Elizabeth Ann Seton. She was born Elizabeth Ann Bayley in New York City in 1774. She grew up Episcopalian, marrying William Magee Seton in 1794. They had five children together but he died in 1803. They had gone to Italy for his convalescence and she discovered Catholicism there. Returning to New York, she converted in 1805. She moved to Emmitsburg in 1809, where she founded an order of nuns and started a school for Catholic girls, founding what would inspire the parochial school system in the United States. She died in 1821 and was canonized in 1975 by Pope Paul VI. She is the first US citizen to be declared a saint.

The star of the shrine is the basilica where she is buried. 

Basilica exterior

That dome is over the congregation, making a very spacious and open nave.

The nave

From the inside, visitors can see that the dome has a walkway that I would love to walk around.

Dome interior

The main altar also has plenty of space and light, with mosaics of saints watching over things.

Mosaics at the main altar

Front view of the main altar

Mother Seton's remains are at the Altar of Relics on the right side of the basilica. The statue was made in Italy and depicts her in the habit that her order, the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's. 

Altar of Relics

Her devotion to Saint Joseph is seen in the side altar to the Foster-father of Jesus.

Saint Joseph Altar

Another altar features Saint Vincent de Paul.

Saint Vincent de Paul

The Marian altar is also the tabernacle, where the consecrated hosts are kept after Mass.

Mary's altar

Another altar with relics is dedicated to Saint Louise de Marillac. She lived in 1600s France and was friends with Saint Vincent de Paul after she became a widow in 1625. She formed the Community of the Daughters of Charity. They worked with the Paulists to serve the poor. She was canonized in 1934 and proclaimed patron of all Christian social workers in 1960.

Saint Luoise de Marillac

The organ over the entrance

The stained glass windows are numerous and large, featuring things like the seven corporal acts of mercy and various nuns doing such good deeds.

Stained glass

A meditation chapel just outside the doors of the nave features a statue of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The mosaic behind the statue shows Jerusalem in the near distance and the apostle not being able to keep watch for one hour.

Jesus in Gethsemane

Slacking apostles

On the way outside, we saw another image of Mother Seton, this one was originally in the foyer of the motherhouse of her order. The bas relief was placed in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of her arrival in the valley. 

Mother Seton in bas relief